Physicists Expand Equation of State for Fermi-Hubbard Model

In new research appearing in Physical Review Letters, an international research team, including UC Davis physicists, has expanded the Fermi-Hubbard model, allowing for a more detailed exploration of materials and their properties. In the study, the researchers measured the equation of state for Ytterbium atoms in an optical lattice. Specifically, they used the fermionic isotope 173Yb, which is a metallic element with atoms that can adopt six possible states.

Slimming Down a Colossal Fossil Whale

A 30 million year-old fossil whale may not be the heaviest animal of all time after all, according to a new analysis by paleontologists at UC Davis and the Smithsonian Institution. The new analysis puts Perucetus colossus back in the same weight range as modern whales and smaller than the largest blue whales ever recorded. The work is published Feb. 29 in PeerJ.

From the Land to the Sea: Phi Beta Kappa Visiting Scholar Ryosuke Motani to Share Paleobiology Research Across Nation

We live in a geometric world. From the rectangular skylines of our cities and the orbiting planets of our solar system to the symmetry of butterfly wings and the spiraling double helix of DNA, every shape has its place. 

For as long as he can remember, Ryosuke Motani has been fascinated by shapes. And he’s built an illustrious paleobiology career studying them.

R. Bryan Miller Symposium Returns to Campus for 24th Year

Chemistry is in the spotlight this March with the celebration of the 24th Annual R. Bryan Miller Symposium. The event, scheduled for March 14 and 15, features a lineup of lectures from prestigious scientists working at the cutting-edge of chemistry, its subdisciplines and related fields. Registration for the event, which is free, is now open.

New Hydrophone Array Developed by UC Davis Physicist Enables 3D Recordings of Whale Songs for First Time

To crack the code of whale communication, scientists rely on underwater microphones called hydrophones to gain access to the animals’ soundscapes. In aqueous environments, sound travels about five times faster than it does in air. What’s more, acoustic waves face less dissipation in water, traveling farther and differently than in air. New advances in hydrophone technology spearheaded by a UC Davis scientist are giving us an unprecedented view into the lives of whales.

Studying the Jewel of the Kalahari: Doctoral Candidate Receives Funding to Further Water Chemistry Research in Okavango Delta

For the past five years, Goabaone Jaqueline Ramatlapeng, a National Geographic Explorer and UC Davis earth and planetary sciences doctoral candidate, has studied the water chemistry of the Okavango Delta, the largest freshwater wetland in southern Africa. Recently, she received $100,000 from the National Geographic Society to further her research.

Finding Hope ‘At Every Depth’: New Book Chronicles Our Changing Oceans and How Humans Are Responding

While so much of the ocean is still a mystery to us, the beauty and life within it are being affected by our choices as a species. In some ways, its' changing faster than we can study them. In the book “At Every Depth,” UC Davis scientist Tessa Hill and writer Eric Simons chronicle those changes through the eyes of the community members closest to the shores. But the book is not a passive volume. Instead, it’s a call to action.

Davis Science Café Brings Research to the Public

Created over 10 years ago by Professor of Chemistry Jared Shaw, the Davis Science Café provides an avenue for the community to learn about the current state of science across its many disciplines. Learn more about the Davis Science Café in the above video. 

The meetings are held on the second Wednesday of every month at G Street WunderBar in Davis at 5:30 p.m.